On my first day of chemotherapy last summer, I was talking to a man who was going through the exact same thing that I was. He was doing radiation, too, and it was his first chemo session, as well. He had been a heavy smoker. His wife couldn't even sit there with him - she had to go out and have a smoke! I wanted to say, "you idiot! Don't you see what he is going through!"

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.